Paper-feed mechanism.



No. 674,362, Pafemdmy 2s, mol.

J. Sv.V BANCROFT. E PAPER FEED MECHANISM.

(Apphcat on filed S pt 25 1900) (lo Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN SELLERS BANCROFT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THELANSTON MONOTYPE MACHINE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PAPER-FEED MECHANIVSM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,362, dated May 21,1901.

Application filed September Z5, 1900. Serial No. 61,011. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern: `pawl will remain fully seated while theother Be it known that I, JOHN SELLERS BAN- is being withdrawn and willvretain its seat CROFT, a citizen of the United States, residing untilthe opposite pawl isin turn fully seated atPhiladelphia,inthecountyofPhiladelphia "preliminary to the withdrawal ofthe firstand State of Pennsylvania, have invented cermentioned pawl. f 55 tain new and usefulImprovements in Paper- It also comprises minornovel features per- Feed Mechanism; and l do hereby declare the tainingto the actuating devices, all as herefollowing to be afull, clear, andexact descripinafter more fully described, and pointed out tion of thesame, reference being had to the in the claims. ro accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating 6othis specication, and to the figures of referthe preferred embodiment ofthe said invenence marked thereon. y tion, Figure 1 is an end View, andFig. 2 is This invention relates to paper-feed mecha front elevation,partly in section, of an *oranism such as is employed in connection withganized feeding mechanism embodying the type casting and composingmachines for improvements. Fig. S'isadetail'showing the 65 M.ntermittingly advancinga perforated recordconnections between theactuating and feedstrip, the latter controlling the admission of ingpawls. Figs. 4 and 5 Aare diagrammatic air or other fluid under pressureto a series views showing the pawls in diierent relative of portscommunicating with the various conpositions when in action. Fig. 6 is adetail 2o trollable elements ofthe machine;and it com- View, partly insection, showing the pawl- 7o prises improvements in the arrangement andactuating connection. Fig. '7 is a detail showdisposition of thesupply-pipe through which ing the locking-seat for the pawl connection.air is delivered to the air-bar, whereby uh- Like numerals of referencein the several necessary movements of the supply-pipe are figuresindicate the same parts.

suppressed and the air-bar is permitted to be In its generalconstruction the paper-feed 75 swung back to uncover the cross-bar withmechanism with which the present improvev which it coperates. This isaccomplished ments are shown embodied is that of Patent by attaching thesupply-pipe to a coupling No. 625,998, to which reference maybehadcoincident with the aXisabout which the airfor a more completedescription of its gen- 3o bar vibrates. eral operation. It will sufficefor present 8o It also consists in a, novel and improved purposes todesignate and identify certain of form of actuating mechanism applied tothe itscomponent parts, as follows: 1, the frame; ratchet-wheel of thepaper-feed device for in- 2, the cross-bar, containing the series ofports termittingly advancing the latter, said mechleading to the variousactuating devices; 3,

anism including as its principal features a the pin-wheels, attached toshaft 4, journaled 85 retaining and an actuating pawl so connected inthe cross-bar; 5, the ratchet-wheel, secured and operated that eachshall be moved to its to shaft 4; 6, the air-bar, provided with armsseat between the ratchet-teeth without slid- 7, mounted loosely uponshaft 8; 9, sleeve on ing thereon or changing the position of the shaft8, provided with two arms 10, each con- 4o feeding devices before theother is withdrawn nected to one end of the air-bar through bolt 9o fromits seat, whereby the wear upon the 11 and spring 12; 13, valvecontrolling the ratchel-wheel and pawls is prevented and the admissionof air to the air-bar and operatedl action of the feed rendered morecertain and upon by one of the arms 10 when the-latter positive.Incidentally this feature also inis depressed to bring the air-bar intocontact cludes the connecting of thetwo pawlsin such with the surface ofthe record-strip; 14, the 95 manner that each shall in turn constitutethe pulley for actuating the winding-spool; 15, pivotal support throughwhich motion is bearings for the su pply-spool; 16, driving- Ltransmitted to the opposite pawl from the acpulley on shaft 4 foractuating the Windingltuating devices both in approaching and respool;17, elastic belt for communicating mo- 5o ceding from the ratchet-wheel,so that one tion from driving-pulley 16 to pulley 14, and loo 18 leverreceiving motion from the actuating devices through connecting-rod 19.

Instead of connecting the air-supply pipe 2O directly to the air-bar 6,as heretofore, said pipe is connected to a coupling 21, concentric withand supported upon the extension of shaft 8, constituting the axis ofthe air-bar and its levers 10. The interior of this sleeve 21communicates, through a passage 22, formed in one end of shaft 8, with apassage formed in one arm 7 of the air-bar, leading to the chamber belowthe valve, as shown in Fig. 2. By thus attaching the supply-pipe to theaxis about which the air-bar ,turns it is not only possible to make thesupply-pipe rigid, but it greatly facilitates access being had to thecross-bar, as the air-bar can be swung back to uncover it withoutdisturbing the connection with the supplypipe.

The connection, Fig. 6, through which inotion is transmitted from leverl to the airbar comprises a slotted link 25, adjustably attached to oneend of the rod 26, whose opposite end is similarly attached to a head27, slotted laterally for the reception of a pin 28 on lever 10. The rod26 passes through a slotted bearing 29 on the frame and is surroundedbelow said bearing by a sleeve 30, which serves to limit the verticalmotion of the connection and of the air-bar when attached thereto. Uponthe upper face of bearing 29 are provided two depressions or seats 3l,such as are formed by two intersecting circular recesses, therebyproducing two opposite shoulders 32 intermediate the seats, asillustrated in Fig. 7. Fitted loosely within the elongated aperture inbearing 29 is a headed sleeve 33, and between the latter and the head 27is arranged a spring 34, surrounding the rod 26. This spring 34 servesto elevate the air-bar, the lever 18 operating in opposition thereto t0depress the air-bar and i seat it upon the record-strip and cross-bar.

Said spring also serves, in conjunction with sleeve 33, to retain theconnection at either extreme of the slot in bearing 29, and when in oneposition the connection will be in engagement with the air-bar, and whenin the other it will be disconnected therefrom and vthe air-bar will bereleased, so that it can be turned back. To engage or disengage theconnection, it is only necessary to push it laterally, the spring 34yielding as the head of the sleeve passes from one seat to therother. Itwill be seen that the sleeve 30 not only serves to limit the elevationof the air-bar when in action, but also to retain the connection inposition when disconnected from the air-bar.

The driving of the supply-spool through the medium of the elastic belthas the eifect of producing unequal tension in the belt, so that at theend of the feeding movement there is manifested a slight tendency on thepart of the shaft 4, carrying the pin-wheels, to turn in its bearings asthe pawls are shifted, and the movements of the pawls being synchronousit results that as one pawl leaves the ratchet-wheel and the otherenters the ratchet-wheel will follow these movements, thereby causingthe engaging ends of the pawls to rub with more or less friction againstthe sides of the teeth, gradually wearing the latter, and therebydisturbing the accurate positioning of the record-strip with relation tothe air-ports. To overcome this, provision has been made whereby eachpawl after being seated in the ratchet-wheel shall retain its positionwhile the other pawl is being withdrawn and untilitis again engaged andfirmly seated. As in the prior patent mentioned, the holdingpawl4O ispivotally supported upon the frame, while the actuating-pawl 4l ismounted upon the annulus 42, the latter being supported to move in apath concentric with the axis of the shaft 4 and provided with a lug 43,movable between adjustable stops on the frame; but unlike the said priorstructure the outer end of the holding-pawl 40 is pivotally attached toone end of a link or lever 44, the opposite or outer end of said linkbeing pivotally attached to the upper end of an elastic connection orlink 45, whose lower end is pivotally attached to lever 18. At a pointintermediate the holding-pawl 40 and the actuating-link 45 a link 46 ispivotally attached to the link 44, the lower end of said link 46 beingpivotally connected to an arm on the actuating-pawl 41 in rear of itspivot. A spring 47 is interposed between the free or engaging ends ofholding-pawl 40 and actuating-pawl 41. A stop 48 is located upon theannulus 42 in position to limit the outward motion of theactuating-pawl, and in rear of the holdingpawl 4() a similar stop ismounted upon the frame; but in the latter case this stop, formed bylever 49, is adjustable and constitutes a means for locking the feedmechanism against motion when desired. This effect is produced when thelever 49 is turned down to engage the holdingpawl,'and thus prevent itswithdrawal from the ratchet-wheel, under which circumstances themovements of' the lever 18 will be accommodated by the elasticconnection 45. The relative motions of the actuating and holding pawlsas thus arranged and connected will be best understood by a comparisonof Figs. l, 4, and 5. The position which the pawls assume at thecommencement of the stroke of the driving connection 45 in eitherdirection is represented in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 represents the feedingmotion, and Fig. 1 the return motion. During the upward or return motionof the actuating-pawl the holding-pawl 40 is seated in the ratchet-Wheeland furnishes the fulcrum` about which link 44 turns in withdrawing theactuating-pawl 41 until it contacts with its stop-pin, after which themovement is communicated to the support upon which said pawl ismounted-to wit, the annulus 42-and the latter is turned until itcontacts with the left-hand stop, as indicated in Fig. 1, thuscompleting the return movement of the actuating-pawl and at the IOO IOS

IIO

same time retaining control of the ratchetwheel through theholding-pawl. Thisposition is maintained and the feeding devices heldlocked in position until the driving connection is drawn down oradvanced in the direction ot' the feed movement. At the beginning ofthis motion the outer end ot' link 44 is moved in a direction tending toWithdraw the holding-pawl and engage the actuating-pawl, which movementsmight be accomplished simultaneously or successively were it not for thepresence of spring 47, whose action coincides with the movement of theactuating-pawl and is opposed to that of the holding-pawl. Hence thelatter is caused to remain in engagement with the ratchetwheel while theactuating-pawl moves into engagement therewith, as represented in Fig.4. During this movement the holding-pawl furnishes the fulcrum for link44; but as soon as the actuating-pawl becomes seated inthe ratchet-wheelthe conditions are reversed, the

actuating-pawl being arrested, so that the continued movement of link 44will elevate or withdraw the holding-pawl until arrested by its stop, asindicated in Fig. 5, the actuatingpawl now furnishing the fulcrum. Assoon as the holding-pawl has been elevated into contact with its stop itagain becomes the f ulcrum about which link 44 turns, and theactuating-pawl isadvanced, carrying with vit the ratchet-wheel anddevices connected therewith. The feeding motion having been completedand the movement of the connection 45 reversed, the first action is toseat the holding-pawl, (the actuating-pawl supplying the fulcrum forthis movement of link 44,) then withdraw the actuating-pawl (theholding-pawl furnishing the fulcrum for this movement of link 44) untilthe actuating-pawl engages its stop, when the further movement of theconnection 45 will retract the actuatingpawl and its support to theposition as indicated in Fig. l preliminary to the next feedingmovement. It will be seen that as thus arranged either one or the otherof the two pawls are at all times not only in engagement with the teethof the ratchet-wheel, but firmly seated therein in position to hold saidwheel against motion in either direction until the opposite pawl is inlike manner fully seated, so that there can be no lost motion orslipping of one part upon another either in transferring the control ofthe ratchet-wheel from one pawl to the other or while effecting the feedmotion, it being of course understood that the engaging ends ot' thepawls are properly shaped to accurately enter and t between the teeth ofthe ratchet-wheel when seated and to withdraw freely without frictionwhen retracted.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that spring 47 tends at all timesto hold both pawls in engagement with the ratchet-wheel, so that wheneither pawl is withdrawn the first motion of the connection 45 in adirection to seat the disengaged pawl will coincide with the action ofthespring. Thus, as shown in'Fig. l, the spring is operating in adirection to throw7 the actuating-pawl into engagement, and a downwardpull upon the connection 45 operates in the same direction,and the sameis true of Fig. 5, wherein the holding-pawl is shown withdrawn insteadof the actuating-pawl7 and the stress of spring 47 is in a direction toseat the holding-pawl, which coincides with the movement imparted to thelatter when connection 45 is elevated. Hence it will be seen that theseating of the pawls is accomplished withoutdevelopingsufficientpressure to disturb the support of the actuati ng-pawl and that theseating once having been effected the action is positive in withdrawingthe opposite pawl and shitting the support of the-actuating-pawl.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a paper-feed' mechanism `such as described, the combination withthe air-bar supported to oscillate about an axis, of asupplypipe in linewith said axis and communicating with the air-bar through itssupportingarm as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a feeding mechanism, such as described, the combination with thepivoted air-bar and axially-connected supply-pipe, of' an actuatingconnection provided with a spring for elevating or retracting theair-bar said connection being detachably connected to the air-bardevices, to permit the air-bar to be swung back to uncover the cross-baras set forth.

3. -In a feed mechanism such as described, the combination with theair-bar and the actuating-.lever therefor, of a connection or linkprovided with a spring and a stop for limiting its movements in onedirection, said connection or link being mediately attached to theair-bar through a detachable connection, as set forth.

4. In a paper-feed mechanism such as described, the combination with adriving-arm as 18 and a driven arm as 10, of a connection intermediatesaid arms andextending through a relatively-fixed bearing or guideprovided with contiguous seats, a sleeve adapted to engage either ofsaid seats and be shifted from one to the other, and a springintermediate said sleeve and a shoulder or head on the connection;substantially as described.

5. The combination with actuating-arm I8, of the air-bar drivingconnection projecting through a bearing on the frame and provided at oneend with an open link and at the opposite end with a slotted head, alimiting sleeve or gage intermediate the bearing and IOO the open link,an actuating-spring intermediate said bearing and the slotted head, anda headed or flanged sleeve adapted to engage either of two seats in thefixed bearing and held to position by said actuating-spring, as and forthe purpose set forth. 6. In an actuating mechanism for paperfeed andsimilar devices the combination of the following elements, to Wit; aratchetwheel; a locking or holding pa Wl movable into and out ofengagement with the ratchet- Wheel; an actuating-pawl movable into andout of engagement with the ratchet-wheel and mounted to vibrate bothwith the latter and in the opposite direction; a main driver; andactuating devices intermediate the main driver and the holding andactuating pawls for alternately seating and withdrawing each of thelatter, said devices actuating the pawls successively and maintainingeach pawl immovably in its seat on the ratchetwheel during the seatingor Withdrawal ot' the opposite paWl; substantially as described.

7. In an intermitting driving mechanism, suclnas described, thecombination with the ratchet-wheel, the holdingpawl and theactuating-pawl, ofa main driver connected to both of said parvis througha lever system wherein each pawl becomes the fulcrum for the seating orunseating of the opposite pawl; substantially as described.

8. In an intermitting driving` mechanism such as described, thecombination with the ratchet-wheel, the holding-pand and theactuating-pawl, the latter mounted upon a movable support, of a linkorlever pivotally connected to both pawls and to the main driver, and aspring operating in a direction to effect the engagement of both pawlswith the -tion such as a link; substantially as described.

10. In an intermitting driving or feed mechanism such as described, thecombination with the ratchet-Wheel, the holding-pawl and theactnating-pawl, the latter mounted upon a movable support, of a springinter- 'mediate the free or engaging ends of both pawls, and a lever orlink connected at opposite ends to the main driver and the free orengaging end of the holding-link, respectively, aud at an intermediatepoint connected by a link with the actuating-pand in rear ol its pivot;substantially as described.

JOHN SELLERS BANCROFT. Witnesses:

FRANK G. GRIER, JOSEPH B. CHURCH.

